HUDSON – Due to increased work responsibilities, School Committee Chairwoman Susan Dunnell late last week became the fourth committee member to resign from the seven-member board during the past 10 months.

A committee member the past 10 years, Dunnell submitted her resignation to the executive assistant's office late Thursday afternoon, Executive Assistant Thomas Moses said at Monday night's selectmen meeting. Her resignation is effecive immediately.

Reached by phone Monday night, Dunnell described her decision to leave the committee as difficult, but necessary due to an increasing work schedule and more travel. Dunnell said she often has work meetings four nights a week, and coupled with School Committee and subcommittee meetings, time was at a premium.

"You never want to not fulfill a commitment," said Dunnell, who was re-elected last May. "It was a tough decision. There's simply not enough time in the day."

Dunnell joined George Calnan, Tammy Ducey and Lorraine Nelson as committee members who have resigned since September. Seats previously held by Calnan, Ducey and Nelson have been filled recently by Michele Tousignant-Dufor, Allyson Hay and George Luoto.

Superintendent Jodi Fortuna said there is often high turnover on boards and committees due to personal and professional commitments. She said she is not concerned about the recent resignations.

"Consistency in leadership is always important," she said. "We're hoping to start a new phase."

Selectmen Chairman Fred Lucy II echoed Fortuna's sentiment, saying it is not uncommon to have such turnover on committees because of increased family or work responsibilities.

In September, Calnan left the committee citing his desire to not run for re-election, while Ducey followed suit a month later, citing increased family and professional duties. Nelson resigned from the School Committee in March, citing personal reasons.

Selectmen Monday encouraged residents interested in filling Dunnell's role to file an interest card with the executive assistant's office. The town will take interest cards until July 29 and are expected to jointly appoint Dunnell's replacement with the School Committee Aug. 4.

"Hopefully we'll get some interest," said Fortuna.

Jeff Malachowski can be reached at 508-490-7466 or jmalachowski@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @JmalachowskiMW.